Whether youre a seasoned farmer or a backyard enthusiast, setting up a chicken coop that meets your feathered friends needs is crucial for their well-being and productivity.
We’ve had chickens for a long time and have learned a few things about what makes them happy. Our mixed flock grew, so we recently got a bigger coop. After years of experience, we knew what works and what we should include when we designed the new coop.
In this blog post, I’ll share what should be inside a chicken coop, the things to consider when designing a chicken coop, and the elements to avoid.
Giving your flock a safe and comfortable place to live will not only keep them healthy, but it will also help them lay more eggs.
If you’re thinking about getting chickens, one of the first things you’ll need to figure out is housing Building or buying a high-quality chicken coop is essential for keeping your flock safe, comfortable, and productive But what exactly should the inside of a chicken coop look like? In this article, we’ll explore the key components that make up a well-designed coop interior.
Roosting Bars
The roosting bar is one of the most important parts of a chicken coop. Chickens have a strong instinct to sleep high up, which keeps them safe from predators. Roosting bars should be made of wood and put up higher in the coop, at least two to three feet above the ground. Give each chicken eight to ten inches of space to perch. Your chickens will spend a lot of time resting in the roosting area, so make sure it has a lot of room.
Nesting Boxes
Nesting boxes give chickens a safe and comfortable place to lay their eggs. Plan for one box for every 4-5 hens. The rooms inside the boxes should be dimly lit and filled with soft bedding. Place them lower than the roosts and raise them off the ground so the chickens can’t sleep in them. Easy access to the boxes makes collecting eggs a breeze.
Insulation and Ventilation
Proper insulation and ventilation helps maintain good air quality and protect the flock from drafts, extreme temperatures, and ammonia buildup. Seal any cracks or openings while also providing vents near the top of the coop to allow stale air to escape. Make sure there are windows to let in natural light during the day.
Litter and Flooring
The floor of the coop should be raised off the ground and made of materials that are easy to clean, like concrete or plywood. Dirt floors can harbor bacteria. Cover the floor with absorbent litter to collect droppings. Provide litter trays underneath roosting bars to simplify cleaning. Change the litter frequently.
Feeders and Waterers
Convenient access to food and fresh water is vital. Mount feeders and waterers at chicken height to prevent waste. Place them away from nesting boxes and roosts to discourage fouling with manure. Automatic or gravity-fed options reduce the labor of daily filling.
Coop Size
Make sure to allow at least 2-4 square feet of floor space per chicken inside the coop. Overcrowding causes stress, feather-pecking, illness, and drops in egg production. Also account for future growth if you plan to expand your flock later on.
Predator Protection
Secure any doors, windows, and openings to keep predators like raccoons and foxes at bay. Use strong, galvanized hardware cloth with a tight mesh to prevent access. Automatic pop doors provide entry only at night when the flock is safely inside.
Storage Space
Designate an area to conveniently store supplies like extra feed, bedding, and medications. Built-in shelving or cabinets keep things organized so they can be easily located when needed.
Lighting
Chickens require adequate lighting for natural behaviors like eating, drinking, and egg laying. Windows and skylights allow for natural daytime light. For coops that will be used at night or during shorter winter days, install LED lighting on timers to supplement any sunlight.
Specialized Features
Customize your coop with specialized amenities like a chicken run, dust bathing area, roosting rails, or creative amenities to make life more enjoyable for your flock. Get creative based on your preferences and space available.
Building a high-quality chicken coop upfront saves time and money over the long run. Prioritizing key interior features like roosts, nest boxes, and ventilation sets up your flock for health, happiness, and productivity. With good planning and proper housing, raising backyard chickens can be an incredibly rewarding experience for both you and your birds!
What is a chicken coop?
A chicken coop is essentially a house for your beloved feathered friends. It is a structure specifically designed to house and protect them. It serves as a shelter for chickens (and other flock friends) to roost, lay eggs, and seek refuge from predators and harsh weather conditions.
There are many shapes and sizes of chicken coops, from small ones for a few hens in your backyard to bigger ones that are built just for you if you have a lot of chickens.
They usually have a secure area with walls made of metal, wood, or wire mesh, which lets air flow and keeps the animals safe.
There are things inside the coop, like nesting boxes, roosting bars, feeders, and waterers, that meet the chickens’ basic needs. We’ll talk more about these below.
A well-designed chicken coop promotes the health, safety, and productivity of your flock!
And now for the inside of the coop
Wood or pine shavings will give off a pleasant smell, absorb moisture to prevent bacteria from growing and causing illnesses in your flock, and are easy to clean out and replace.
I like to first spread a layer of First Saturday Lime all over the floor and then a layer of pine shavings. I use a whole bag of pine shavings, which ends up being about 3 inches or so.
Chickens love to roost, so providing them with sturdy perches is essential.
Place roosting bars at different staggered heights (2 feet and higher) within the coop, allowing approximately eight inches of space per bird. Smooth and rounded perches free from splinters help prevent foot injuries and promote restful sleep.
Ensure the roosting poles circumference is large enough for the birds to comfortably grip their feet for maximum stability while sleeping.
As chickens poop the most during the night, having a “poop board” below the roosting bars will make daily/weekly cleaning a lot easier.
Read more: Cleaning your chicken coop
Hens need a cozy place to lay their eggs.
Provide nesting boxes lined with soft bedding materials, such as straw, wood shavings, or nesting pads to create a comfortable and inviting space for egg-laying.
Aim for one nesting box per four to five hens.
Just a friendly warning: You can supply the coziest nesting boxes and have enough for everyone, but 90% of the time, they will fight over one! They will even lie on top of each other! Its really an instinctual thing. If they lay them in one place, it is easier for one hen to sit on and brood them for hatching.
Ensure your nesting boxes are elevated but no higher than 3 feet off the ground and easily accessible for collecting eggs. We usually use 12x12x12 squares.
Yup, chickens are messy. So get ready to step in chicken poop and have chicken poop everywhere! Oh, and they love to scratch and take dust baths, soiling everything around them.
For this very messy reason, you should choose sturdy and easy-to-clean waterers and feeders that accommodate your flocks size and habits.
Have enough feeders so at least 1/3 of the flock can feed at a time. Elevated or hung feeders will help to keep things a bit more manageable.
Your chickens should always have access to clean water and food, so regular cleaning of waterers and feeders is unavoidable.
Tip! If your flock is only locked up in the coop for the night, they do not need to have their waterers inside as they dont drink or eat during sleep time. They then only need waterers in the run for during the day.
When you have chickens, you can be sure there will be rodents and rats; its inevitable.
Having your chicken feed nearby in storage containers will protect the feed from these pests and save you a lot of time walking back and forth.
Invest in secure, airtight food storage containers to keep your chicken feed fresh, dry, and protected from pests. Proper storage helps maintain the nutritional value of the feed and prevents spoilage.
As I mentioned earlier, dust baths are one of the chickens favorite pastimes. It is like a spa treatment for them! This is their natural way to deter insects such as mites and lice.
Adding food-grade diatomaceous earth to your chicken coop will make this pastime activity even more beneficial. Diatomaceous earth combines minerals from clay, iron oxide, and silica from fossil remains that aid in controlling external parasites like mites and lice.
Apply a thin layer of diatomaceous earth in areas where your chickens dust bathe or nest, as it acts as a natural insecticide.
Even better than DE is something called First Saturday Lime. It’s not DE but it is similar and completely non-toxic to all animals. Sometimes Diatomaceous Earth can be toxic to some animals if inhaled. And as humans we have to wear a mask and be cautious when spreading it. First Saturday Lime does all the same things DE does but better. You can read more about it HERE
Chicken Coop Interior Set-up & Maintenance | Williams-Sonoma
FAQ
What all goes inside a chicken coop?
Inside the coop, you’ll find features such as nesting boxes, roosting bars, feeders, and waterers, that cater to the chickens’ basic needs, which we will go into more detail below. A well-designed chicken coop promotes the health, safety, and productivity of your flock!.
What should the floor of a chicken coop look like?
Concrete and plywood are the best options for most chicken coops. You can add bedding to your base to make it more comfortable and warm and to lower the risk of getting hurt. It’s important to look for flooring that protects against the elements and predators.
What is the best material for the inside of a chicken coop?
Hemp (5 stars) – The Gold Standard Hemp is the ultimate bedding material for your chicken coop. Its natural antibacterial properties make it perfect for nesting boxes, where hygiene is paramount. Hemp provides excellent insulation for chickens as well and is a good absorber of odours.
What is the ideal chicken coop layout?
Usually, the chicken door should be located on the south facing side of the chicken coop. If designing a large coop, include a full-size door to make it easier for you to access the coop and clean the coop. Windows should be located on the east and west facing sides of the chicken coop.